A flexible fleece for backcountry fishing, the Ozone, from Mountain Hardwear

Date:

5/30/02

Tackle type:

Apparel

Manufacturer:

Mountain
Hardwear

Reviewer:

Zander

Total Score: 9.08

Introduction: When most of us think tackle the first thought that usually
comes to mind are rods and reels, but one of the most important pieces of gear
is the right clothing. This clothing offers protection from the elements,
enabling us to fish longer and harder. Mountain Hardwear produces a flexible new
fleece that is ideal for backcountry fishing that is able to exceed angler
demands through the use of exciting new Polartec®
materials.

Mountain
Hardwear Ozone Jacket Specs

Material

Polartec®
Wind Pro/Power Stretch

Weight

1lb 3oz

Sizes Available

Small, Med, Large, X-Large

Color

Black, Midnight, Moss, Salsa, Slate

Fastening (Adjustment)

Zippers, Drawcord

Price as tested

$125.00

Impressions: Anglers stalking trout in the backcountry have to rely on
their apparel to provide protection from all the elements. Fleece apparel is
popular among anglers because for the most part it is comfortable and has
excellent thermal capabilities. However, some anglers shy away from fleeces
because they are bulky and are not rugged enough. From the first moment I set
eyes on the Ozone jacket from Mountain Hardwear I knew this was a different type
of fleece. The Ozone is very streamline, form fitting, and featured what
appeared to be a very tight knit durable exterior. When we first asked Mountain
Hardware about a good garment for backcountry anglers they immediately
recommended the Ozone based on its light weight and yet surprisingly
formidable characteristics.

The Ozone is
one fleece that is designed to be sleek and form fitting

The Materials/Colors:
Before embarking on our field test we did some research on the new
Polartec®
materials that the Ozone was crafted
from.
It turns out that Polartec®
materials are among the most flexible materials in terms of thermal and moisture
handling. The outer skin of the Ozone is
made of
Polartec®WindPro, which offers four times the wind
protection of traditional fleece without compromising breathability. Highly
compressible and lightweight, the dense WindPro fleece is able to trap body heat
efficiently, while its water-repellent exterior sheds light rain and snow.

If you have ever fished for backcountry Browns
you know that these fish spook easily.....I mean REAL easy! Mountain Hardwear
has a couple color options for the Ozone. The Salsa and Midnight colors will
make you stand out in the environment, good for climbing and hiking, but for
anglers the moss and slate colors are excellent for blending into the
surroundings. During our test we surveyed how close we could get to the fish
with different colors, and sure enough with the moss Ozone we were able to get
right up to the edge of the river without spooking the Browns, something we were
not able to do with a ordinary white t-shirt on.

Close up you
can see the actual texture of Ozone fleece

The Field Test: We
tested the Ozone by hiking into the backcountry of Kings Canyon National Park.
Home to some of the largest Sequoias in the world, as well as a the natural home
to Golden and Brown trout. During the field test the Ozone encountered heavy
spray from waterfalls, blazing sun, submersion in rivers, and even an unexpected
thunderstorm.

The Ozone
jacket features two large pockets that can hold some small gear, but is best
suited as a warm sanctuary for freezing hands

Durability:
The outer layer of the Ozone jacket is much more durable then it looks. One key
thing we noted as a major improvement over traditional bulkier fleece materials
was the low profile of the Polartec®
material. When off trail and navigating bushes and sharp rocks the fleece never
snagged up, and when it encountered a sharp obstacle it resisted damage very
well. To reduce wear and tear on high stress areas like the cuffs and arms the
Ozone is buffered with Polartec®
Power Stretch. Polartec®
Power Stretch has four way stretch capabilities and also effectively draws
moisture away from the skin while remaining durable on the outside.

The Ozone's
inner lining is an effective wind shield

Storage:
The Ozone doesn't offer a whole lot of storage as the whole fleece is designed
to be form fitting. The Ozone is designed to be used as a mid layer garment
beneath an outer shell so this makes sense. The two pockets on the Ozone are mid
body and are best suited for warming hands rather then large tools which you
will feel pressed up against you. To carry all your backcountry gear you will
still want to wear a pack of some sort.

The Ozone
collar is adjusted quickly with a draw cord...which can double as a
convenient place to hang a trout net

Wind Resistant: Here is where the Ozone really shines. With its advanced
materials and form fitting design it is a fantastic resistant of medium to high
winds. The collar can be zipped all the way up to protect your neck and even
drawn tight to lock in heat via a quick draw cord. Even in high winds the Ozone
allowed us to comfortably continue fishing.

The high
stress areas utilize Polartec Power Stretch material

Water
Resistant: The Ozone is enhanced to protect anglers from light to medium wet
conditions. It isn't waterproof, and for heavy conditions you will still want to
wear a shell, but for light to medium situations it is fantastic. When we were
fishing near a waterfall we were constantly facing mist which simply beaded off
the Ozone's outer surface. During day two of our test we found ourselves 5 miles
away from the campsite when an unexpected thunderstorm hit. After 5 miles of
hiking the outer layer of the Ozone was soaked, but I still remained warm
inside, and was amazed to discover my t-shirt still dry after removing the
jacket back at camp. The Ozone dries quickly after getting wet as well, and in
light conditions most of the water can simply be brushed or shaken off the
surface.

Water beads
off the enhanced water resistant surface

Warmth:
The use of Polartec®
Wind Pro basically equates to warmth without weight. The Ozone offers a high
warmth to weight ratio and is able to trap body heat in while blocking wind and
water out. Simply put, the system works.

Finding
suitable fishing holes while hiking alongside raging rivers and negotiating
heavy water spray was a lot easier with the Ozone

Applications: I found the Ozone jacket to be near perfect for backcountry
applications. In extreme conditions you will want the added protection and
storage of a shell, and the Ozone works well in this system. One of the best
things about the Ozone is that it is very lightweight and folds down to a very
small size, making it a great choice for backcountry fishing where space and
weight a major factors.

The excellent wind and water repelling capabilities of the Ozone also make the
jacket a good choice for bass boat owners like myself that want something light
and easy to move in, but still warm enough and able shield out the wind and
spray.

Ratings:

Mountain
Hardwear Ozone Jacket Ratings (?/10)

Construction/Quality

A fantastic fleece jacket
that can stand alone or as a mid-layer garment for extreme conditions

10

Performance

Excellent wind resistant characteristics and
good water repellent surface help you fish longer and harder. Good color
choices help backcountry anglers camouflage

9.5

Price

Actually a very reasonable price for a high
quality fleece garment with use of authentic Polartec materials

9

Features

Use of advanced materials,
a quick draw cord are the key features of this jacket. We wish it had just a
little more storage.

8

Design (Ergonomics)

A fantastic design that is
light, not bulky, and very form fitting. It is ideal for hiking to those out
of reach fishing destinations

9

Application

Great for
backcountry anglers, and good for bass fisherman who need wind protection
too. Coupled with a shell the Ozone can even serve saltwater anglers too.
Very flexible!

9

Total Score (avg)

9.08

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus
Minus

J Great Construction

L Limited storage

J Great Comfort

L Need a shell for extreme conditions

J Polartec materials

J Excellent wind resistance

J Good moisture resistance

J Great price

Conclusion: Mountain Hardwear has designed a jacket that is extremely
flexible due to its compact and lightweight design. Use of advanced Polartec®
materials give the Ozone jacket a perfect balance of weight to performance
ratio. I highly recommend the Ozone for light to medium backcountry fishing
applications, and heavy to extreme applications if coupled with a good shell.
You will find yourself not only fishing longer with comfort, but more empowered
to navigate hairy conditions off trail as well as stalk native brooks and browns
without spooking them. If you are in the market for a flexible fleece jacket,
then you should definitely check out the very comfortable and capable Mountain
Hardwear Ozone.